JVC Zero 6 Anybody? They are solid built.

[Furburger]

Is anyone using these speakers? I was surprised not to find much online about these. I would have thought a seemingly common JVC brand speaker would be abundant???
As you can see the woofer foams are gone. I hooked them up to a receiver and ran them at low volume to check if any blown drivers. Using the paper towel tube method I found that both Mids were not putting any sound out...well actually one of them was but only sporadic on and off.
I was very pleased to hear those tweeters working...un replaceable apparently?
I pulled the drivers and measured all with a meter. I did not disconnect the wires when checking ohms.

Does the quiet/sporadic and varied mid readings indicate the crossovers need recap?
Has anyone re foamed these? I have done a couple but not like these.

Speaker 1
Tweeter - 7.2
Mid - 3.4 This one was sporadic
Woof - 6.0

Speaker 2
Tweeter - 6.0
Mid - 5.3 This one was had no sound
Woof - 5.9

 

[swechsler]

You're going to have to use the tone method rather than shims; I wouldn't recommend cutting those dust caps. Other than removing the plastic trim ring I don't see anything different. Just make sure the new surround is attached to the same side of the cone as the old. It looks like the woofers have a flat edge, so ensure that the foam surrounds are designed for that attachment method.

For the mids, I'd disconnect them and check them out separately (you can also connect them momentarily to your amp, but keep the volume low, since loud full range music will kill them. They're probably old enough that caps should be replaced. And clean the controls with some Deoxit, that could be why the midrange isn't producing any sound.

 

[GD70]

Ooo, you are lucky!
The Zero series are excellent, though unfortunately I've only heard them on YouTube videos.
They are somewhat rare in the U.S., but fairly common in Japan, where they kept most of the higher end gear for their market.

There's another thread currently going with another set of 6's. The refoam may prove difficult because of the oddish woofer cone size. I suggested looking on Jauce.com, Japan's Yahoo eBay type site for possible listings for surrounds. You may need to have them shipped from Japan if you can find them. In the mean time, carefully measure the cone and basket dimensions, maybe one of the U.S. suppliers may have something that will work.
See thread below.
@greysailor
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...6s-restoration-getting-ready-to-begin.879320/

I have seen those tweeters and mids occasionally on fleabay, so not unobtanium parts.
The crossovers may need attention as well as the pots needing a deoxit bath.
Check the caps to see if they are within spec and replace if they are not.

Being there's not a lot of info out there, here's great opportunity do document these in detail for us and others down the road.
Google the JVC/Victor Zero series speakers. There is some good info out there.
The Zero1000/100's are on my bucket list!

Cheers, Glenn

 

[ETLS]

@greysailor

@graysailor

 

[Furburger]

@GD70
I know you are a big advocate of these Zero speakers as every thread about them you are there. I posted on graysailors thread as well about a foam supplier from I think its Germany? Did you see that it shows up when I google Zero 6.

@swechsler
I have done 2 sets of speakers so far and both using the tone method. I wonder if those inverted dust caps would be hard to source?
Yes of course disconnecting the mids is what I need to do. Easy push on connectors with all the drivers in these speakers. This might be the first speakers I attempt doing the caps.
I might need help choosing and finding the correct caps.

 

[GD70]

@GD70
I know you are a big advocate of these Zero speakers as every thread about them you are there. I posted on graysailors thread as well about a foam supplier from I think its Germany? Did you see that it shows up when I google Zero 6.

@swechsler
I have done 2 sets of speakers so far and both using the tone method. I wonder if those inverted dust caps would be hard to source?
Yes of course disconnecting the mids is what I need to do. Easy push on connectors with all the drivers in these speakers. This might be the first speakers I attempt doing the caps.
I might need help choosing and finding the correct caps.

I just saw your comment in gray sailors thread. If those surrounds are correct, than get them. I would, without hesitation.

 

[GD70]

@GD70
I know you are a big advocate of these Zero speakers as every thread about them you are there. I posted on graysailors thread as well about a foam supplier from I think its Germany? Did you see that it shows up when I google Zero 6.

@swechsler
I have done 2 sets of speakers so far and both using the tone method. I wonder if those inverted dust caps would be hard to source?
Yes of course disconnecting the mids is what I need to do. Easy push on connectors with all the drivers in these speakers. This might be the first speakers I attempt doing the caps.
I might need help choosing and finding the correct caps.

The most important aspect of replacing caps is to make sure the replacements have the same UF values. Higher power ratings are fine. Sometimes you'll need to combine two, maybe three caps for a correct value. Usually poly film caps are very good and reasonably priced. Big money for boutique caps for the most part is a waste of money. Many say the sonic differences are minimal. Different brands however, can effect sound, so here you might need to try a few different brands for the sound you like most.
Post some pics of the crossovers. There may be very good caps there that will be fine.

 

[avguytx]

Me personally, I wouldn't worry about shimming. I would think about 90% plus of the drivers I've reformed over the last 20 years I've done with the tone method. And with those nice speakers, I'd want to keep them as stock as possible...with exception to the crossovers which should be checked. Also clean those potentiometers to be on the safe side. Definitely nice rare speakers.

 

[EngineerNate]

The Dayton poly caps from parts express are my go to for crossover needs.

 

[Furburger]

Now that the family is gone I can have some speaker time this holiday. Got the surrounds in from Germany. I think the same people from Germany have a couple of blurry youtube videos showing a refoam on Zero 6 speakers. I didn't see them using a test tone, but they placed a metallic item on top of the dust cap before glueing the surround to the basket. What is the deal with the metal object, could it be a magnet???
Going to start cleaning the old surrounds off today.

I will document my progress as I go along on these Zero 6

I will get some pics of the crossovers and for sure will need some input from the speaker guru's if I decide to do the caps.

 

[Furburger]

Got the rubber off. Was stuck on very good. You can see the glue went up the sides as well. Used a thin spatula and slid it around the outside edge. Used a flat head driver and worked it around the underside. Worked it off slowly so it wouldn't get damaged.

Cleaned up the topside of the basket, came off fairly easy. This is my first speaker job with the foam on the underside and I am not liking it so far. The guy on the youtube vid just flew around the underside with ease whacking the crap off. They offered a product called remover when I bought the foams and I passed. What was it I wonder?
On the backside I carefully removed the hi spots and ridges of glue. I worry about fraying the edge of the paper cone. I find it more difficult than taking foam/glue off speakers with the foam mounted on top of the cones.

 

[Furburger]

Not glued yet just placed them. It seems they are the right fit. The roll doesn't have much room back there, right against the basket side.

 

[GD70]

Got the rubber off. Was stuck on very good. You can see the glue went up the sides as well. Used a thin spatula and slid it around the outside edge. Used a flat head driver and worked it around the underside. Worked it off slowly so it wouldn't get damaged.

Cleaned up the topside of the basket, came off fairly easy. This is my first speaker job with the foam on the underside and I am not liking it so far. The guy on the youtube vid just flew around the underside with ease whacking the crap off. They offered a product called remover when I bought the foams and I passed. What was it I wonder?
On the backside I carefully removed the hi spots and ridges of glue. I worry about fraying the edge of the paper cone. I find it more difficult than taking foam/glue off speakers with the foam mounted on top of the cones.

Good work! The surround may be tight, but it looked that way with the original in your pics. I test fit quite a bit, "practice" getting the surround positioned properly prior to gluing.
I don't know about the magnet thing, but I'd go with a 30hz test tone to center the VCs when gluing the surrounds to the basket lip. Take your time, it will be worth it. Also, I suggest using a water soluable glue, something like Aileen's, so if you need to redo the surround because of VC rub, you can wet, and slowly loosen the glue on the basket edge to recenter the VCs. I had to do this on a AR woofer for my 12's.
Glenn

 

[Furburger]

Hey GD70 glad you're around, I may need help.
Oh ya had 2 coffees and a banana while I practiced the process. Got one done and it went well. I used the Aileen's on the top with the 40 hz test tone running. I went with the solvent based contact adhesive that was sent with the surrounds from Germany on the bottom side. I felt that was the best way for that application under there. It was going to grab and hold and be far superior grab than H2O glue. It was just going to be that much more awkward trying to hold it in place under there while everything dried.
Held in place with the painters tape on top. Propped the edge up with sticks, applied and brushed out the contact adhesive. Pulled the sticks and pushed down on the cone until it moved close to the red line. I did one half at a time.

 

[GD70]

Hey GD70 glad you're around, I may need help.
Oh ya had 2 coffees and a banana while I practiced the process. Got one done and it went well. I used the Aileen's on the top with the 40 hz test tone running. I went with the solvent based contact adhesive that was sent with the surrounds from Germany on the bottom side. I felt that was the best way for that application under there. It was going to grab and hold and be far superior grab than H2O glue. It was just going to be that much more awkward trying to hold it in place under there while everything dried.
Held in place with the painters tape on top. Propped the edge up with sticks, applied and brushed out the contact adhesive. Pulled the sticks and pushed down on the cone until it moved close to the red line. I did one half at a time.

I think your doing a fine job, and like the sticks idea, and you're red guide lines. Generally I'm not keen on contact glues because once contact is made, it's very difficult to separate if something's off alignment. You're technique is a good idea. With Aileen's, the idea is to apply the glue to the cone edges and surround lip, join the surround and cone, run a finger on both sides simultaneously, pinching to have equal pressure to spread the glue on both surfaces. Then let go, and let it sit 10-15 minutes to tack up, then rejoin the two surfaces working both top and under sides of the cone edges all around. You may need to do this for a bit until fully tacked down. Any extra glue that squeezed out, can be cleaned up with wetted q-tips. Both approaches are work, but I prefer the longer working time with the Aileen's.

 

[Furburger]

Speaker 1 is back together and hooked up to an amp. It sounds good...I think? The only way the mid works is when the mid pot is set at +4. With any other settings I get notta.
I gotta think that's not typical is it? Whats going on there? I did take the pots out and cleaned them with deoxit. Do I need to flush the pots more?
Also included some pics of the mid. It sits in a plastic bowl lined with the stuffing. The tweeter works with all settings on its pot.
I have the speaker hooked up to a JVC A-X77 Amplifier. Need to glue the rubber ring back on eventually when I am sure alls good with the woofer's new foam.

 

[waggs098]

It's possible the switch is still not clean. What I would try is switching between 1, 2, and 3 (whatever the settings are) and listen closely and see if you get any sound at all on those settings wether it's crackling sound or faint music. If so I would try to clean it again. If not it could be some other connection issue. Since you get sound out of the mid at the + 4 setting the mid is good.

 

[Furburger]

Thanks waggs098

I am going to re foam the other speaker and test it to see if it has the same thing going on with its mid.

 

[waggs098]

Thanks waggs098

I am going to re foam the other speaker and test it to see if it has the same thing going on with its mid.

Sweet. Let us know of the progress.

 

[Furburger]

Ok I got the 2nd speaker re foamed. It went well following the same process as the 1st speaker. Hooked it up to an amp and the woofers sound great, so far I don't hear an issue with the re foam job for both speakers.
However the mids are being difficult. The mid on this 2nd speaker has very low sound. When using the mid control pot it does nothing at all, its low sound on all settings. This is the same mid that had no sound in my first post. I put this mid in the other speaker and got the same result, so low sound in both cabs. Now to go back, the 1st speaker mid was working on +4 only. When I put it in the 2nd speaker it worked fine and when adjusting the mid pot it worked on all four settings.
I disconnected both mids from the cabs and checked with a meter and got readings of 6.4 and 6.5 ohms.
One thing I want to do now that I think of it is to hook the mids up direct to an amp at low volume and see if the 2nd speaker mid is still low sound. I am also going to open up the pots on both and give them another de oxit bath.
Do you think the one mid is blown even when checking out good with a meter? Is that possible?